Big Fourth Inning Propels South Alabama over Ladyjacks Friday

Friday, February 22

Mobile, Ala.

4 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-4

South Alabama

5-5

Stephen F. Austin

South Alabama

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Big Fourth Inning Propels South Alabama over Ladyjacks Friday

2/22/2019 6:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA lines five hits but trio of errors and a five-run fourth inning by the host Jaguars spoil Ladyjacks’ Mardi Gras Invitational opener

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

MOBILE, Ala. – After a delayed start due to on-and-off rainfall in Mobile Friday afternoon, the SFA softball team began play at the Mardi Gras Invitational with a challenging tilt against tournament-host South Alabama. The Jaguars, a strong Sun Belt Conference team, proved to be one of the most difficult out so far in the Ladyjacks' 2019 journey as the home team was able to score eight runs in five innings thanks to a five-run fourth inning.

Despite SFA (9-4) lining five hits in the affair, South Alabama (5-5) collected nine of its own, including four in the bottom of the fourth, and took a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.

After the Ladyjacks got a pair of base runners on in the top of the first inning with sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil and freshman right fielder Cassidy Tucker both hitting singles, the host Jaguars got a two-out three-run home run from right fielder Dayla Gulledge.

Beginning in the bottom of the second inning, freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur began to find her groove inside the circle. She ended the frame with a pair of strikeouts before keeping South Alabama hitless in the third.

However, the home team led off the bottom of the fourth with a trio of singles before a hit-by-pitch gave the Jaguars a 4-0 lead. Moments later, a one-out bases-loaded double by South Alabama's Gulledge led to a pair of Ladyjack errors as all four players crossed home plate to make it 8-0. Another SFA error would give the Jaguars one on with two outs before a groundout finally ended the inning.

The Ladyjacks tried their best to spark a fifth-inning rally when junior North Texas transfer third baseman Lindsay Gregory led off the top of the frame with a single to left field. Wilbur then reached on a fielder's choice before junior left fielder Madison Clements singled through the right side. A single to third base by sophomore pinch hitter Triniti Kendzior loaded the bases for SFA with only one out, but a wild pitch ended up resulting in an out at home as South Alabama made a great defensive play at the plate. Down to its final out, a groundout ended any further chances for the Ladyjacks.

Wilbur (5-3) took the loss on the rubber after tossing three complete and striking out seven of 18 batters faced, while junior right-handed reliever Jordan Llinas struck out one in eight batters faced during the fourth inning.

The Jaguars' Gulledge finished the game 2-for-2 with six RBI, two runs scored and a walk, accounting for all but one of South Alabama's eight runs. Left fielder Brittani Reid went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the home team as Alexis Reid (3-3) earned the complete game win, throwing two strikeouts and walking none in the five innings or work.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to Jaguar Field Saturday to take on 25th-ranked Illinois at 3:45 p.m., before facing tournament host South Alabama for the second time of the weekend at 6 p.m. Tomorrow evening's tilt with the Jaguars will be streamed live on JagNationTV, while all of SFA's contests in Mobile can be followed via live stats at USAJaguars.com.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.

-SFA-